Perfectly Imperfect: Embracing Real Motherhood

The Parent Empowerment Movement
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Join us, Jenny and Felicia, the co-founders of The Parent Empowerment Movement, as we get real about motherhood—the struggles, the joy, and doing it our own way. We’ll laugh, cry, scream into pillows, and find hope again. With 30+ years of experience working with kids and families, we’re here to remind you that you’re already the perfect mom for your child! No judgment, just support. Let’s ditch expectations and embrace the messy, beautiful reality of parenting—together.

  1. Jun 8

    [Re-Release] Summer Burnout Already? Reclaiming the "Good Enough" Season

    Remember this episode from last year? As we head back into the sunshine, every single word of this conversation still rings completely true. Are you already feeling exhausted by the pressure to create a "magical" summer before the first popsicle has even melted? If your social media feed is making you feel like you’re failing at fun, we want to give you a massive permission slip right now: bubbles in the backyard with chalk? Good enough! The sprinkler on and a plate of watermelon? Good enough! In this fan-favorite re-release, Jenny and Felicia (coaches for parents) tackle the pervasive weight of seasonal expectations. We’re re-introducing a liberating mindset: the "Best Good Enough" season, designed to help you trade performance for actual presence and protect your energy tanks. Key Takeaways The Comparison Trap: How curated "highlight reels" on social media fuel mom guilt and lead to rapid energy depletion. The "Best Good Enough" Mindset: Why intentionally settling for "good enough" is actually a high-level act of conservation for your family’s peace. Value vs. Performance: Why simple backyard connection is often more sustainable—and just as joyful—as a high-stress trip to Disneyland. Ditching the Bucket List: How to remove heavy, performative seasonal obligations from your plate so you can actually enjoy the summer. Time-Stamped Highlights [02:15] – Analyzing the "staged reality" of social media and how it fuels parental burnout. [07:40]  – Defining the "Best Good Enough" mindset for a sustainable summer. [12:10]  – Bubbles vs. Disneyland: Evaluating the "energy ROI" on big trips vs. simple connection. [18:30]  – The hidden load of the "Summer Bucket List" and why it's okay to let it go. [24:55]  – Aligning your summer activities with your family’s core values instead of external pressure. [30:15]  – Applying The Plate Management Method™ to holiday and seasonal transitions. Take Control of Your Plate Summer shouldn't feel like a second, unpaid job. If you’re feeling the weight of the seasonal "shoulds" and it's draining your capacity, we have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    28 min

  2. May 31 ·  Bonus

    [Re-Release] Returning from Vacation Needing a Vacation?

    As we head into the season of family trips and summer travel, we knew we had to bring this foundational conversation back to the surface. This is one of our most requested episodes because it addresses the heart of Plate Management™ in the real world. Admit it: The phrase "relaxing family vacation" can sometimes feel like a cruel joke. If your trips involve more mom burnout and logistical gymnastics than actual rest, we are calling BS. It’s time to stop treating vacations like a second, unpaid job and start demanding your "slice of the pie". In this fan-favorite re-release, Jenny and Felicia (coaches for parents) dive into the heavy mental load of family travel. From navigating extended family dynamics to the unique chaos of Disney World, we’re sharing practical strategies to help you return home feeling truly refilled. Key Takeaways The Vacation Pie: Understanding that you are entitled to a "slice" of the rest and joy on a trip, not just the responsibility of creating it for others. Delegation Ninjas: Practical ways to offload the "dinner decision" and other mental tasks to your partner or extended family. Disney & Crisis Management: Real-talk about high-stimulation environments and how to protect your energy tanks when the pressure is on. Sustainability in Travel: Why prioritizing your needs isn't a luxury—it’s the conservation tool that makes the whole trip sustainable for your family. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:20] – The "Family Trip" vs. "Vacation" distinction: Validating the burnout. [04:30] – Identifying the invisible mental load of vacation planning and execution. [10:15] – Navigating the "Shoulds" of extended family travel. [15:20] – Disney World Survival: Managing high expectations and high stimulation. [22:15] – Applying The Plate Management Method™ to your itinerary. [28:40] – Practical Delegation: How to make someone else figure out the logistics. [35:00] – The "Never Again" Spiral: Moving toward memories you actually enjoy. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, and traveling often adds a whole new set of "shoulds" to your list. If you’re returning from a trip feeling more exhausted than when you left, it’s time to reset your foundation. We have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    22 min

  3. May 24

    Beyond "Good Job" — Fostering Intrinsic Motivation in Your Kids

    How many times a day do you find yourself saying "Good job!" to your kids? It is the ultimate parenting autopilot phrase—we use it when they share a toy, eat their dinner, or finish a drawing. But what if our constant stream of praise is actually training our children to look outside themselves for validation, turning them into "praise junkies" who depend on external approval? In this episode, Jenny and Felicia tackle the hidden pitfalls of evaluation culture. They explore why dropping "Good job" from your vocabulary protects your parenting capacity, and how switching to encouragement instead of praise builds authentic, intrinsically motivated kids who value their own efforts over an adult's stamp of approval. Key Takeaways Praise vs. Encouragement: Understanding that praise evaluates the child ("You're so smart!"), while encouragement notices the effort and the process ("You worked really hard on that puzzle!"). The Intrinsic Motivation Drain: How constant external rewards and verbal gold stars can accidentally decrease a child's natural curiosity and desire to learn. The Power of Acknowledgment: Learning how to simply state what you see—using objective, non-judgmental observation—to let your child know they are seen without placing a grade on their behavior. Lightening Your Plate: How stepping out of the role of "Chief Evaluator" instantly relieves your mental load and allows you to just enjoy your kids' natural development. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:15] – The Parenting Autopilot: Why "Good job" is our automatic default setting. [02:30] – The Praise Junkie: How evaluation trains kids to seek external validation. [05:45] – Rewriting the Script: Turning performance evaluation into process encouragement. [09:15] – The Research: What happens to intrinsic motivation when rewards take over. [12:30] – "Look at Me!": Handling the attention-seeking loops with quiet notice instead of loud praise. [14:20] – The "Notice, Don't Judge" Strategy: Practical phrases to substitute for "Good job" today. [19:00] – Reclaiming your energy: Stepping down from the judge's bench to lighten your plate. Take Control of Your Plate  We know your plate is heavy, and constantly feeling like you have to evaluate, reward, and cheerlead every single move your child makes is exhausting. If you are feeling depleted and ready to step off the praise treadmill so you can find true grounding, we are here to help. We have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and reclaim your peace in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    42 min

  4. May 17

    Embracing Our Humanness — A Special Conversation with Raditia

    Are you tired of the pressure to be a "perfectly enlightened" parent? We often feel like we need to have all the answers and never lose our cool, but the reality of parenting—and being human—is much messier than that. In this special guest episode, Jenny and Felicia sit down with spiritual mentor and coach Raditia Lasry to explore the profound power of embracing our "Humanness". Raditia shares how to navigate your internal landscape, meet your triggers with grace, and finally release the heavy weight of perfectionism so you can show up authentically for yourself and your children. Key Takeaways The Myth of Perfection: Understanding why chasing "perfect parenting" is actually a barrier to deep connection with your children. Triggers as Data: Learning how to view your biggest parenting triggers not as failures, but as valuable information about your own internal needs. The Internal Landscape: Raditia breaks down how to check in with your own consciousness before reacting to the chaos around you. Presence over Performance: Shifting your focus from "doing it right" to "being there" in the messy, human moments of your day. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:30] – Meeting Raditia: Her journey into consciousness and spiritual mentoring. [05:15] – Defining "Humanness": Why your messiness is actually your greatest asset. [12:40] – The Trigger Map: How our kids mirror the parts of ourselves that need healing. [18:20] – Navigating big emotions without the side of shame. [22:15] – Releasing the performance: Practical steps to authentic parenting. [32:10] – Final thoughts and grounding exercises for the internal landscape. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, and sometimes the heaviest weight is the expectation you have for yourself to be perfect. If you’re feeling triggered and overwhelmed, it’s time to stop and breathe. We have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent How do I find Raditia Lasry? Raditia’s website Raditia’s Instagram: @mindful.being.llc

    1 hr

  5. May 10

    Boundaries are Kindness — How Limits Actually Create More Connection

    Do you feel like setting a boundary makes you the "mean" parent? We often hesitate to set limits because we want our kids to be happy, but without boundaries, our own energy tanks end up depleted and our "plates" become dangerously heavy. Boundaries aren’t about controlling our children; they are about protecting our own capacity so we can show up as the authentic, grounded parents we want to be. In this episode, Jenny and Felicia dive into the messy reality of setting boundaries with kids. They explore why boundaries are actually an act of kindness, how to balance being "kind and firm," and the importance of teaching bodily autonomy through the concept of the "personal bubble". Key Takeaways Boundaries as Self-Care: Learning that a boundary is a limit you set for your own energy and peace, rather than a rule designed to control someone else's behavior. The "Kind and Firm" Balance: Exploring how to hold a limit with empathy and love without wavering on the necessity of the boundary itself. Bodily Autonomy: The importance of teaching and respecting physical boundaries, like the "personal bubble," to foster consent and self-respect in our children. Consistency is Clarity: Why sticking to a boundary (even when it’s hard) is actually an act of kindness that helps your child feel safe, secure, and clear on expectations. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:15] – Why parents fear being "mean" when setting boundaries. [02:30] – Redefining boundaries: It’s about your capacity, not their behavior. [05:45] – Applying the Waldorf philosophy of being kind and firm. [09:15] – The "Personal Bubble": Teaching kids about physical space and consent. [12:30] – Dealing with the pushback: How to stay grounded during a meltdown. [14:20] – The "Parenting Hangover": Why consistency is the cure for boundary fatigue. [19:00] – Re-evaluating limits as your children grow and gain more independence. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, and sometimes the hardest boundary to set is the one with yourself. If you’re feeling depleted and struggling to hold your limits without the side of guilt, it's time to stop and breathe. We have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    37 min

  6. May 3

    Your Emergency Reset — Listen to This When You Feel Like Giving Up

    "I just want to quit everything." If you have ever whispered those words while staring at a mountain of laundry, a stressful project, or a chaotic house, you aren’t a bad parent—you’re a human who has hit "The Wall". That feeling of wanting to throw the whole plate away often isn't about the tasks themselves; it's a desperate signal from your internal system that your capacity has been breached. This episode is designed to be your Emergency Reset. Jenny and Felicia get vulnerable about their own "I give up" moments and provide a grounding conversation you can return to whenever you feel like you can't take one more step forward. Key Takeaways Normalizing "The Wall": Understanding that the urge to quit is a common survival response for high-performing parents and not a reflection of your character. Quitting vs. Deviating: Learning how to pivot your plan before you reach a total breaking point by using intentional shifts instead of total abandonment. Physical Red Flags: Recognizing how your body signals burnout—from brain fog to physical exhaustion—long before your mind admits you're done. The Strategic Drop: Why giving yourself permission to "drop the ball" intentionally is often the only way to save the things that actually matter. The Path to Reset: Moving from a state of "giving up" into a sustainable recovery phase that respects your current energy. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:15] – Normalizing the internal monologue of wanting to quit. [04:30] – Identifying "The Wall": The moment your capacity is officially breached. [08:45] – Pivot vs. Quitting: Using deviation to save your energy. [12:15] – Listening to your body: Recognizing the physical warnings of an empty tank. [18:30] – Assessing the "Why": Is it the task, or is it your foundation?. [22:15] – The Power of the "Clean Slate": How a strategic drop provides immediate relief. [25:40] – Finding your way back: Transitioning from survival mode to a sustainable reset. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, and sometimes the heaviest thing on it is the feeling that you have to keep going when you're completely empty. If you've hit the wall and just want to give up, it's time to stop and breathe. We have a tool to help you release the pressure of "keeping it all together" and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    35 min

  7. Apr 26

    The Relentless Weed — How to Stop Energy Leaks Before They Take Over

    How often do you start a season with a "planting list" that is ten times bigger than your actual capacity? We often treat our lives like a garden plot where we try to grow everything at once, only to realize we don’t have enough soil, water, or energy to keep it all alive. Just like a garden, your life requires specific conditions, constant weeding, and seasons of total dormancy to truly flourish. In this episode, Jenny and Felicia dig into the dirt of their own lives to share how gardening metaphors have transformed their approach to "Plate Management". They explore why your internal "soil health" determines the success of your parenting and how the art of pruning can lead to a more sustainable, joyful life. Key Takeaways The Over-Planting Trap: Understanding why starting too many projects or commitments at once ensures that nothing gets the attention it needs to thrive. Soil Health is Soul Health: Why focusing on your foundational energy and mental health is more important than the actual tasks you are "planting" on your plate. The Necessity of Weeding: Recognizing that some things on your plate are "weeds" that need to be removed to allow your primary values to grow. Strategic Pruning: Learning that cutting back even "good" things is often the only way to make room for your most important growth. Respecting the Winter: Reclaiming the necessity of rest and recognizing that "dormancy" is a requirement for future thriving, not a sign of failure. Time-Stamped Highlights [01:15] – Why gardening is the ultimate metaphor for the messiness of parenting. [03:20] – The "Million Seed" Problem: How we over-commit our personal capacity. [05:45] – Soil Health: Why your internal foundation determines your output. [12:30] – Relentless Weeding: Identifying and removing the energy-suckers from your day. [18:15] – The Power of Pruning: Why saying "no" to good things allows space for great things. [22:10] – Aesthetics vs. Health: The difference between "looking" like a good parent and actually being well. [28:00] – Embracing the Winter: Learning to value seasons of rest and low-productivity. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, and sometimes you feel like you are just trying to keep your head above the weeds. If your internal "soil" feels depleted and you are struggling to find the energy to keep going, it's time to reset your foundation. We have a tool to help you clear the mental clutter and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    31 min

  8. Apr 19

    The 5 Ds (Part 5 of 5) — Do: Executing with Intention

    This episode concludes our mini-series on The 5 Ds of Plate Management™. We believe the majority of parents are carrying far too much—unrealistic workloads and expectations that do not actually have to stay on your plate. By categorizing the tasks that ambush your day into Deviate, Delegate, Delay, Drop, or Do, you can intentionally clear the clutter and reclaim your capacity. After we have deviated, delegated, delayed, and dropped, what remains is the work that truly matters. But even a refined list can feel heavy if we don't have a strategy for execution. The final "D" is about more than just checking boxes; it’s about Do-ing with intention, protecting your energy, and building the momentum you need to thrive. In the final part of our 5 Ds Mini-Series, Jenny and Felicia (coaches for parents) break down how to handle the items that earned their place on your plate. We’re sharing practical productivity hacks that actually work for the "parent brain" and discussing how to ensure your "Do" list doesn't turn back into an "Overwhelm" list. Key Takeaways The 2-Minute Rule: Learning how to handle micro-tasks (like hanging up a coat or answering a quick text) immediately to prevent them from piling up and becoming a source of mental "clutter". Eating the Frog: A deep dive into the strategy of tackling your highest-friction task first thing in the day to prevent "dread-induced" energy leaks. Energy-Aligned Action: How to match your "Do" list to your actual energy levels throughout the day, ensuring you aren't trying to do high-focus work when your tank is empty. Empowered Execution: Recognizing that once the other 4 Ds have been applied, the "Do" list becomes a source of accomplishment rather than a weight of obligation. Time-Stamped Highlights [00:45] – Series Recap: How the first 4 Ds prepare you for the final D. [01:10] – Defining Do: Why these tasks are the core of your values and responsibilities. [04:30] – Strategic Prioritization: Choosing what to do based on current capacity. [06:15] – Productivity Hack: The power of the 2-Minute Rule. [09:30] – Overcoming Procrastination: Why you should "Eat the Frog." [12:00] – Building Momentum: The emotional payoff of a finished task. [14:15] – Series Wrap-Up: Moving forward with an Empowered Plate. Take Control of Your Plate We know your plate is heavy, but it doesn't have to be a source of constant stress. By using the 5 Ds, you are choosing a life of intention over a life of reaction. If you're ready to stop just "surviving" your list and start feeling in control of your day, we have a tool to help you clear that mental fog and find your grounding in just a few minutes. Grab our Free Energy Clearing Audio File here! Looking for more? We got you. Coaching: Join our circles & workshops Free Resources: Tools to reset your plate Blog: Real stories & strategies YouTube: See the faces behind the voices Instagram: Connect with us @theparentempowermentmovement Felicia's Honest Motherhood: @eternally.tired.parent

    13 min
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About

Join us, Jenny and Felicia, the co-founders of The Parent Empowerment Movement, as we get real about motherhood—the struggles, the joy, and doing it our own way. We’ll laugh, cry, scream into pillows, and find hope again. With 30+ years of experience working with kids and families, we’re here to remind you that you’re already the perfect mom for your child! No judgment, just support. Let’s ditch expectations and embrace the messy, beautiful reality of parenting—together.

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